Local cricketers do not have passion, motivation and patriotism while Bermuda Cricket Board (BCB) lack accountability and transparent leadership.

That’s the opinion of former BCB technical committee member and senior national cricketer, Saleem Mukuddem, who has been keeping abreast of the sport’s problems from his home in South Africa.

Mukuddem, who represented Bermuda at the 2007 World Cup in the Caribbean and who currently serves as audit committee chairman for the Western Province Cricket Association in Cape Town, where he also plays and coaches, pointed the finger at all of local cricket’s stakeholders for the sport’s demise.

His comments come as Bermuda prepare for the Twenty/20 World Cup Qualifiers in Dubai this month.

He said Bermuda were no longer the reckoning force they once were in Associate cricket while standards had declined domestically as well.

“What the game of cricket in Bermuda needs is accountable and transparent leadership both on the field of play and in the boardroom,” said the medium pacer who follows the game in Bermuda by reading various website reports and this newspaper’s Clay Smith column.

His criticism was detailed in an e-mail sent to The Royal Gazette.

“Administrators believe they know what is best for the players and the game and they operate in this cloak and dagger style.

“The Board (BCB) have rules that sometimes defy logic and common sense . . . ask me, I know first hand. All stakeholders — players, officials, government and fans — are responsible for the current state of cricket but in the same breath all stakeholders could be part of a solution.”

Mukuddem, who holds the record for the highest innings by a colt in Cup Match (106 not out), said Bermuda’s cricketers must hold themselves to higher standards and show more pride in representing their country.

“Passion, motivation and patriotism cannot be taught and Bermudian cricketers simply don’t have it,” he said. “Bermuda should just stick to Cup Match.

“The players have an expectation of entitlement but that is earned after hard work and results. Players are afraid of hard work and would rather choose the easy option and in so doing miss a few of life’s very important lessons.”

Mukuddem said Bermuda’s cricketers must also be willing to make sacrifices for their country.

“There were times when I had to take annual unpaid leave to represent Bermuda cricket,” he said. “How many Bermudians do you know who would have done the same?

“I did it because I love the game of cricket and you will not believe how many people today still in my native Cape Town come to me and say ‘you played in the World Cup right. That must have been so amazing’.

“The opportunity itself was priceless . . . the memories unbelievable. I give thanks to the Lord almighty everyday for having allowed me to experience playing in a World Cup.

“Cricket is the beautiful game . . . it’s us humans who make it complicated.”

He added: “I followed Bermuda’s poor showing at the recent World Cup qualifiers (World Cricket League Division Three) and Cup Match. And from what I can see Sluggo’s (Dwayne Leverock) nephew Kamau (Leverock) and Doc Manders’ (Andre Manders) son Tre (Manders) are the future of Bermuda cricket.”